The Initiation of Lugh at Tara
Searles

Mon Jul 17 09:34:11 2000
The Initiation of Lugh at Tara*br*(from a Celtic Workshop I did many years ago)*p*I shall attempt tonight to describe the events surrounding Lugh's acceptance into the company at Tara. In doing so, I also hope to shed additional light on the Magical techniques of the Tuatha Dé Danann as well as the Druids. It is my opinion that the Initiation of Lugh is very similar in style and substance to the initiation that a Druid could expect when the studies and disciplines had been mastered. I will start by telling the tale of Lugh's Admission to Tara. This will give us some background around which we can discuss the implied Magical as well as tradition aspects of Druidic initiations. When we are finished with our analysis, I think we will have discovered that Lugh's Magic is not so different from our own.*p*Lugh studied for many years under a smith and Druid. When he was finished and had acquired every skill that he could master, he presented himself at the front gate of Tara, to be admitted to the Enclosure of Tara within. The gatekeeper was and his duty was to admit only the fittest to the company of the Tuatha Dé Dannan. Let us started with the questioning at the gate.*p*Entering the Gate*p*This is a ritual that requires the person desiring admission to the company of Tara to posses a skill that is is not already resident within the hall.*p*Lugh is finally admitted by the gatekeeper after he is found to possess the one quality that is lacking within the boundaries of the Hill, this is the ability of one person to do many skills.*p*He is called "Samildánach" because he is "many skilled". The possession of these many skills is very similar to attaining a diploma from a school. Lugh has studied and learned many crafts and skills to prepare himself for the tasks that are to come. Any candidate for admission to the fellowship of Tara would have to have had similar training.*p*(The "Cross") THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION TO THE FIRST LEVEL It represents learning and is the key to transcending the physical levels and using the powers of the mind. This is a very similar qualification ritual to the type required for joining the Fianna. I shall attempt to draw comparisons between the two:*p*Fidchell, Game of the Gods*p*In addition to all of the previously declared skills, Lugh's ability to use straegy and to innovate are tested in a game of Fidchell. Fidchell means "Wood Wisdom" and is and ancient Irish board game of strategy. It probably was played in much the same way as other similar games, including chess. Normally, one player would attempt to defend a king piece in the middle of the board from attacking players from the board’s edges. Generally the attackers have the advantage of numbers and the defender has the advantage of position. Gameboards have been discovered within peat bogs. Some of them have holes in them for the pieces (similar to "Chinese checkers"). This game is identical to Gwydbbyll played at Samhain by the Welsh kings against Gwynn ap Nudd for the coming fate of the kingdom. As such, it may also have been used for divinations. Needless to say, Lugh wins his game handily, using a move that had never been seen before. This was called the "Enclosure of Lugh" or the "Cro of Lugh".*p*The Cro of Lugh*p*The word "Cro" means "enclosure" as I've already stated. *p*Lugh's skills at Fidchell and his innovation of the "Cro", show that he is capable of capturing a king as well as being a formidable opponent of amazing mental abilities. At this point he is challenged by the King's Champion, Ogma.*p*Ogma and the Flagstone*p*Ogma is Nuada's champion. It is he that battles in the place of the King. Not only is he skilled in weapons, he is a master of eloquence and learning. Ogma issues a challenge to Lugh by throwing the flagstone of Tara out through the walls at Lugh. This is no mean feat, as this particular stone required four groups of twenty oxen to move. Some sources say that this stone is also the Lia Fail or "Stone of Destiny". If that is true, then Lugh's destiny is being directly challenged not only by the King's champion but also by the stone that chooses the kings as well. Lugh has already proven his basic abilities at the gate. He has demonstrated the shrewdness of his mind at Fidchell. What can be the purpose and form of this particular trial?*p*Before answering that question, let's see what Lugh does in answer to Ogma's challenge. Lugh picks the stone up easily, throws it back through the SAME HOLE as Ogma and even throws the piece of the wall that was knocked loose back into place, perfectly SEALING the HOLE. Not only does he answer Ogma's challenge easily, he actually goes him one better! Lugh has demonstrated great wisdom in accomplishing this task. He has accepted Destiny, as symbolized by the Lia Fail and the challenge of Ogma, He has easily handled the weight of fate and traced the source of his Destiny. He has returned the object of Destiny to it's appropriate sanctuary and he has even repaired the damage that fate has caused. In performing this task Lugh has shown insight into cause and effect, identifying the source of problems before repairing the damage that they cause. *p*(The "Diamond") THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION TO THE SECOND LEVEL. Lugh has shown clear mastery of strategy, creativity and insight. His Mastery of Wisdom of the Mind shows he is ready to be tested in matters of the Spirit and Magic. The Sage's Seat*p*After accepting his Destiny and conquering it, Lugh is invited within the Enclosure of Tara and is asked to sit within the Sage's Seat by Nuada, the King. This is a chair of great honor next to that of the king. This is the position held by the King's Druid or Chief Ollamh. Lugh is asked to play the harp, one of the functions of the Filidh and a skill that is mastered by The Dagda, Himself.*p*The Three Strains of the Harp*p*Lugh plays the "sleep strain" so that the entire company sleeps for a day and a night. He plays the "Sorrowful Strain" so that all present are filled with wailing. He plays the "Joyful Strain", so that all there are filled with ecstasy. Lugh has clearly mastered the power of the Dagda and the Music of the Bards. Nuada the King asks that Lugh accept the kingship for a period of fourteen days.*p*(The "Two Crosses") THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION TO THE THIRD LEVEL. Lugh has shown that he can master the Magicks of the Bard. He has the three skills (actually Magical charms) of the harp strains. He is able to cast spells and sustain them over a period of time.*p*The Request of Nuada*p*Why does Nuada request this of Lugh? Why for only a short period? Why fourteen days?*p*The Amrun of Decision*p*Following Lugh's acceptance of the leadership of the Tuatha Dé Danann, he holds his first conference, the Amrun of Grellach Dollaid. Significantly The Dagda and Ogma are invited as well as Lugh's two kinsmen, Goibnu and Dian Cecht. We have previously seen that the word Amrun means "a time of Magical chanting". Grellach Dollaid seems to mean "pleasantries and injuries". If this so, it would seem to show that Lugh is holding his first Magical ritual after being accepted into the company of Tara. He is flanked on each side. He is surrounded by Ogma with the Sword of the King's Champion and Eloquence (based on my table of correspondences, in the East), by the Dagda, master of the harp and the staff (in the South), by his kinsman, Dian Cecht (to his right in the West) and he is backed by his kinsman Goibnu (representing the Magic of Earth in the North). Lugh's Magical chanting is performed facing The Dagda and his strength supported by the power of his kinsmen, in his place of greatest strength, on his right hand, and in his place of greatest weakness at his back. The fact that my correspondences have Lugh facing the flaming Spear in the South as well as the pathway of the Sun across the Southern sky should also be noted. Lugh is perfectly centered to act as the conduit for the Magical chanting. This technique is very similar to age-old shamanic power raising practices.*p*This Amrun is conducted in a Magical Circle that is a place located outside of normal time and space. This fact is revealed by the description that says they chanted for "a year and a day". This is a common aphorism for existence within the Celtic Otherworld where ordinary time has no meaning. Spells are constructed and empowered by this group to cause "injuries" to the Fomoire and also to protect and strengthen the Tuatha Dé Dannan as they prepare for the second battle of Magh Tuireadh.*p*(The "Spiral") THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION TO THE FOURTH LEVEL. Lugh has conducted and led a Magical Ritual where he is the focal point of the Power raised. He has probably written many of the chants himself. He is a priest of Celtic Magic. He has mastered Knowledge, Wisdom, Spirit and Magic. He has only one more test to pass to attain the five levels of a Druid. He must show that he has discovered his Inner Self so that he can manifest his own Power Perfectly and in harmony with all other Powers. I call this the Mastery of ONE.*p*The Cro of Nine Spears*p*Following the Magical chanting of the Amrun, Lugh summons his forces to him and requests a summation of their individual contributions to the upcoming battle. Each of the Tuatha details a particular skill or feat that will be performed (very reminiscent of Lugh's many skills as detailed previously). The Dagda says that what they have all said they will do he will also do himself. This means that The Dagda is also "Samildánach" or "many-skilled". The Dagda is hailed as "The Good God" from that day forward. Perhaps The Dagda is the Avatar of Lugh's Power? He is the summation of the forces that the Tuatha are marshalling against their archenemies and particularly against Balor their King (also Lugh's Grandfather, whose destiny was that he would die by the hand of his grandson).*p*The battle against the Fomoire commenced and, as was the Celtic custom, Lugh was prevented from doing personal combat. He was surrounded in a circle of nine spearmen that protected him from attack. These spear men were his foster- fathers: Tollusdam, Echdam, Eru, Rechtaid Finn, Fosad, Feidlimid, Ibar, Scibar and Minn. While Lugh was held from the battle, the Fomoire were wrecking havoc upon the Tuatha through the power of Balor's "Evil Eye". The Eye of Balor*p*Balor had a single eye that was huge. It was also a poisonous or "evil" eye. When not in use, the eye was covered by a shield that required 4 men to open it. These four men had to seize a ring that allowed the power of the eye to be revealed. During the battle, Balor slew Nuada and Macha by the power of this eye. What was this eye? How did it kill? How did Lugh defeat the Power of the eye? What is an evil eye anyway? How is this battle tied in with Lugh's relationship to himself, his kingship and his own Power? These are the questions we shall attempt to answer, once the tale is done.*p*The mundane details of the story, say that Lugh escaped from the Cro of the Nine Spears to cast a rock through Balor's eye as its cover was being lifted. The Power of the eye was not allowed to reach lethal levels before Lugh's rock crashed through Balor's brain and eye. This is very reminiscent of David fighting Goliath as well. Lugh then, removed Balor's head as a battle prize.*p*(The "Three times Three") THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION TO THE FIFTH LEVEL. Lugh has faced the "Evil Eye". He has faced the ultimate Power of the Fomoire. He has withstood the forces that sought to deny him birth. He has conquered the enemy that slew the old leader Nuada and his connection to Sovereignty, Macha. He has led the Tuatha Dé Danann to victory. In doing so, he has also looked within the "Inner Eye" and faced his worse fears. He has escaped from the Cro of the Nine Spears to calmly cast his fate into the eye of the storm, the unknown. He has become ONE by mastering his fear and taking the Power of his fear to himself.*p*The Head, the Tree and the Shield*p*After passing all of these tests and fighting these battles on many levels of consciousness and self, Lugh has achieved ONE-ness from many skills. He is Samildánach. The Power of the Dagda is his. As a symbol of his mastery he should develop his own shield to hang in the weapons hall at Tara with the heroes of the Tuatha Dé Danann. This is a very shamanic act and worthy of a Druid. If we are to become many-skilled, perhaps we would all do well to study the symbols that we would write upon our own shields?  Perhaps we should study all things to see how each connects to another? Perhaps our own mastery of self will be a passage through manylevels?*br*